Abstract: An open magnet has vertically aligned first and second assemblies each with at least one superconductive main coil. At least one support member is vertically aligned and attached to, the first and second assemblies. At least one cryocooler coldhead is aligned generally horizontally and has a housing which is attached to, and receives weight-bearing support from, one of the first and second assemblies.

Abstract: A spring motor for driving an electric power generator with constant power includes a crank-up spool, a take-up spool, and a relatively wide, flat tape spring which winds in a relaxed condition on the take-up spool. In one form, the spring has a width which varies approximately linearly from one end to another end so as to generate a constant torque at a fixed radius from an axis of the crank-up spool as the spring unwinds. In another form, the spring width is constant and a separate drum is driven by contact with the unwinding spring, with the separate drum driving an output shaft. In still another form, an idler wheel is driven by contact with the spring and the output shaft is driven from the idler wheel through gear contact with the periphery of an output drum mounted on the output shaft.

Abstract: The present invention is capable of more accurately tracking an invasive device in a subject's body in the presence of eddy current inducing structures. Current patterns applied to the tracking system's transmit coils are modified to compensate for the effect of the eddy currents. The current supplied to the coils is a linear combination of the current needed to create the desired electromagnetic field in the region of interest; and one or more error terms. These terms are determined experimentally during system calibration and are mathematically modeled as a series of exponential functions having a given amplitude and time constant. The error terms in the current applied to the transmit coils cancel the magnetic fields created by eddy currents within the tracking region and result in an actual electromagnetic field which is close to the desired ideal electromagnetic field.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for directing a flow of fluid to a turbine via a nozzle box mountable to encircle a shaft. The nozzle box includes a housing having an inner wall spaced from an outer wall and joined therewith so as to form a chamber therein. The housing also includes at least one inlet and at least one outlet in which each is in fluid flow communication with the chamber. A plurality of radially projecting nozzles are positioned between the inner and outer walls and located upstream of the outlet for directing the flow of fluid through the outlet. A flow distributor is positioned between the inner and outer walls and located upstream of the nozzles for directing the flow of fluid through the chamber and to the nozzles. The flow distributor is configured to obtain a substantially uniform flow of fluid to the nozzles.

Abstract: A refrigeration system is disposed within an outer cabinet having a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment connected via a mullion opening. A compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and a freezer evaporator are connected in series to expand and condense a refrigerant to cool the compartments. A freezer compartment temperature sensor and a fresh food compartment temperature sensor are provided to sense compartment temperatures. A discrete speed freezer compartment fan directs cooling air throughout the freezer compartment and through the mullion opening to the fresh food compartment. A controller generates control signals to the discrete speed evaporator fan to operate at high speed if either the fresh food compartment or both the freezer and fresh food compartments demand cooling and at a low speed if only the freezer compartment demands cooling.

Abstract: A vertically-aligned open magnet includes first and second (i.e., top and bottom) assemblies each having a longitudinally-extending and vertically-aligned axis, a superconductive main coil, and a vacuum enclosure enclosing the main coil. At least one support beam has a first end attached to the first assembly and has a second end attached to the second assembly. An annularly-cylindrical support skirt is coaxially aligned with the axes, has a first longitudinal end attached to the second assembly and has a second longitudinal end supportable by a floor.

Abstract: A target is laser shock peened by directing against an ablative coating thereon a laser beam pulse having a fluence, duration, and corresponding peak power effective for ablating the coating to form a plasma and shock wave therein. The plasma is confined adjacent the target to plastically deform the target by the shock wave to develop residual compressive stress therein. The pulse has a duration less than ten nanoseconds and a corresponding peak power for increasing coupling efficiency between the pulse and plasma.

Abstract: An optimized combustor cooperating with a compressor in driving a gas turbine comprises a cylindrical outer combustor wall having an upstream fuel entry region and a downstream turbine entry region. An array of mixing holes are disposed about the periphery of the outer combustor wall adjacent to the fuel entry region so as to lower Nox production therein. An array of dilution holes are medially disposed within the outer combustor wall to provide an entry for dilution air to the combustor.

Abstract: High frequency (HF) antennas for wideband signals are used in the tracking of railcars. These are rugged antennas especially adapted to the hostile environment of a railcar. One antenna is in the form of a magnetic loop. Another generates an electric field produced by a plate mounted just below the railcar undercarriage with an optional dielectric slab situated between the plate and the undercarriage. The antennas need not be specified in terms of optimal parameters since the approach taken is to provide a generic antenna structure adapted to being fitted underneath the carriage of a railcar. This generic structure exhibits a mitigated Q and is capable of broadband tuning. This feature makes the antenna easier and less costly to produce in large quantities and facilitates use of a standard fitting mechanism and installation procedure.

Abstract: Two parts are welded together at a weld spot in a groove. A spot adjacent the weld spot is heated simultaneously and independently of the welding so that the heating and welding form a heat-treated weld bead along the groove. Preheat treatment, postheat treatment, or both, may be used simultaneously with welding to maximize performance of the resulting weld joint. Preheat and postheat treatment may be performed using lasers while the welding may be performed by TIG welding or laser welding. The welding torch and preheat and postheat lasers are coplanarly aligned.

Abstract: In performing three-dimensional flow imaging using coded excitation and wall filtering, a coded sequence of broadband pulses (centered at a fundamental frequency) is transmitted multiple times to a particular transmit focal position. On receive, the receive signals acquired for each firing are compressed and bandpass filtered to isolate a compressed pulse centered at the fundamental frequency. The compressed and isolated signals are then wall filtered to extract the flow imaging data. This process is repeated for a multiplicity of transmit focal positions in each of a multiplicity of scanning planes to acquire a volume of flow imaging data. Volume rendered images are then produced which allow the user to view the data volume from any angle. In addition, the data volume may be reformatted to produce two-dimensional images of arbitrary cut planes through the data volume.

Abstract: A cryostatic vessel is radially interconnected inside a tubular thermal shield. A shield first endplate includes a plurality of spacers which are disposed in axial abutment with a corresponding first endplate of the vessel during assembly. A shield second endplate is disposed in axial abutment against an opposite end of the shield, and includes alignment holes receiving corresponding alignment pins extending from an opposite endplate of the vessel. The spacers maintain a predetermined clearance between the endplates of the vessel and shield which clearance is precisely maintained upon fixedly joining both shield endplates to the shield.

Abstract: An airfoil with a reduced heat load for use in either a turbine or a compressor of a gas turbine engine comprises having at least one heat reducing dimple on the body of the airfoil or on the associated endwall of the airfoil. The body of the airfoil is comprised of a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side and a suction side. The length of the heat reducing dimple in the expected direction of hot gas stream flow is at least equal to or greater than the width transverse to such direction. The heat reducing dimple is located on the airfoil or endwall so as to reduce the heat load as the hot gas stream flow passes from the leading edge to the trailing edge.

Abstract: A sweep generator 230 applies a range of frequencies to an rf coil 140 to detect the resonant frequency of a field generated by a magnet 125a,b. A frequency to current converter 220 applies an auxiliary magnetic field to tune an MRI apparatus to the resonant frequency of the rf coil. A flexible coil of one turn (300) or two or more turns (500) has a plurality of segments (301-307; 501-513). One of the belt has a contact k0, (k0′), which is electrically connectable to one or more contacts k1, (k1′), k2, (k2′), etc. located between the ends of the segments. For each connection to successive contacts, the length of the coil and its inductance increases by the added impedance DLij between contacts ki and kj. That increase of inductance is nullified by capacitors DCsij located between segments.

Abstract: A current sensor assembly includes a sensor coil, an electrostatic shield coil, a core, a housing, and a magnetic shield. The sensing coil, electrostatic shield coil, core, housing, and magnetic shield can be of toroidal symmetry and arranged coaxially about a pair of primary current conductors. The conductors can be either asymmetric or symmetric with respect to the geometric center of the remaining sensor assembly. The core and a secondary winding make up a current sensor. The core is cylindrically shaped and fabricated of non-magnetic material. The secondary winding is wound over the cylindrical core to form a toroidally shaped winding. When assembled into the current sensor assembly, the core and windings are disposed around two single turn primary windings through which AC currents to be measured flow. Alternatively, the conductor can be flat and the sensor can be a solid state sensor that includes an electrostatic shield.

Abstract: An exemplary imaging apparatus includes a wave generator for generating a wave in an article; a detector for detecting a wave in the article; and a processor which: forms a matched filter based on a response of the article to a wave propagated through the article; directs the wave generator to generate a wave at a plurality of generation positions; directs the detector to detect a motion of the article at a plurality of detection positions; forms a scan data set from the detected motion of the article; multiplies the scan data set by the matched filter to produce a compensated data set; and coherently sums data points in the compensated data set to produce a focused image.

Abstract: A vibration sensing device including a strip bearing a pattern of markings. The strip is caused to slide back and forth in front of a sensor as the result of vibration or displacement of an object to which either the strip or the sensor is attached. By varying the spacing between the markings on strip, the direction and approximate speed of the motion can be sensed by the frequency of the signal generated by movement of the pattern past the sensor and its rate of change. The vibration sensing device can be made to sense out of balance (OOB) or vibratory motion of a piece of equipment such as a washing machine, motor engine or other device during use or transport.

Abstract: An industrial turbine assembly comprises a plurality of rotating blade portions in a spaced relation with a stationary shroud. The rotating blade includes a root section, an airfoil having a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall defining an outer periphery and a tip portion having a tip cap. An offset squealer is disposed on the tip cap. The offset squealer is positioned inward from the outer periphery of the rotating blade. The offset squealer increases the flow resistance and reduces the flow of hot gas flow leakage for a given pressure differential across the blade tip portion so as to improve overall turbine efficiency.

Abstract: A magnet, such as an open or closed magnet, has a first assembly with at least one superconductive main coil and with a first vacuum enclosure enclosing the main coil(s). A first cryocooler coldhead has a rigid first housing and is generally vertically aligned. A first flexible bellows is vertically aligned, has a first end attached to the first housing of the first cryocooler coldhead and has a second end attached to the first vacuum enclosure of the first assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus and method including a coolable airfoil for exposure in a hot fluid flow of a machine portion. The airfoil is configured to be connectable with the machine portion and includes a peripheral portion surrounding a medial portion, and a chordwise extending pressure side joined with a chordwise extending suction side. At least a first channel is disposed in the peripheral portion of the pressure side and at least a second channel is disposed in the peripheral portion of the suction side. A flow path is formed from the machine portion and through the first and second channels. The flow path is configured to direct a coolant fluid substantially radially outward through the first channel in the peripheral portion of the pressure side and substantially radially inward through the second channel in the peripheral portion of the suction side to cool the airfoil.